Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/331448
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 18 JUNE 2014 News 8 JAMES DEBONO THE owners of Villa Bonici, have filed an appeal with the Environ- ment and Planning review tribunal of the Malta Environment and Plan- ning Authority against the author- ity's refusal to issue a permit in the villa grounds in Sliema. In March, MEPA turned down a request for the construction of a residential complex spread over four blocks around a landscaped area. The height of the proposed build- ings varied between two and 12 floors. The reason for the refusal was that the local plan lays down that no per- mits can be issued before a develop- ment brief regulating development in the area is issued. In their appeal owners Nicholas M. Jensen, Irene Bache and Agnes Gera De Petri argued that the appli- cation has been ongoing at MEPA's end for years and the supposed 'de- velopment brief ' should have been prepared during the deliberation of this application. In addition the appellants insisted that the proposal is designed in a way that the villa, a Grade 2 monu- ment, will not be overshadowed by the development while other ele- ments of the existing garden were retained and integrated with the proposed design. MEPA is defending its decision not to issue any permit before a develop- ment brief is finalised. A report submitted by MEPA's le- gal office said the prior approval of a development brief will ensure the comprehensive redevelopment of the whole site while protecting the historical context of Villa Bonici and its gardens, improving access while providing additional parking for the surrounding area. "Pending the finalisation of this brief it must be made sure that new development does not compromise the planning of the site nor disrupt access and the orderly provision of utility services and parking provi- sion". MEPA also contends that the pro- posed development of eight floors in close proximity of the villa would have an adverse impact on its con- text and setting. Furthermore the development of high rise south of the villa would re- sult in overshadowing the scheduled property, compounding the impact on it. The garden's scheduled features, including the grand staircase, pano- ramic balcony, nympheum, tennis courts and underlying reservoirs and the belvedere, are either being encroached upon and destroyed or built around, resulting in totally re- moving their context. Despite the appeal, discussions between MEPA's Forward Planning Division and the applicants and their architect are underway with respect to the formulation of the Develop- ment Brief. Over 600 objections were presented against the proposed development. Villa Bonici was built sometime before 1872 as a country residence by Emmanuele Testaferrata-Bonici- Ghaxaq (1843-1903). The gardens were in time extend- ed, incorporating existing terraced fields. Until the Second World War, the building was used as a family res- idence. During the war, the building suffered some damage, particularly its rear facade. After repairs were carried out, parts of the gardens were leased for entertainment purposes, including an open-air cinema. For some time the villa itself was rented out to the state and used as a govern- ment school. TRANSPORT Malta filed a plan- ning application last week, propos- ing changes to plans approved by the Malta Environment and Plan- ning Authority in 2011, to lessen the devastating environmental impact of the proposed four-lane carriage- way. The project, whose aim is to pro- vide a safer road design, is set to heavily impact the environment by taking up 56,000 square metres of undeveloped land. Describing the latest planning application as "a refinement of the previous permit" a spokesperson for Transport Malta claimed that the aim of the latest plans is that of preserving further the existing ma- ture trees along Kennedy Drive and reducing the loss of agricultural land at Il-Gonna tal-Barbier. These changes were made following con- sultations with environmental or- ganisation Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar. A new roundabout is being includ- ed in the proposal. This will facili- tate the access to and from the Sali- na Hamlet and the hotel, by making the travel itinerary for various com- muters more effective. This will also help reduce vehicle emissions. The latest plans also reduce the take up of agricultural land in the area known as il-Gonna tal-Barbier. This will be achieved by shifting the proposed road further towards the existing approved footprint. The changes from Kennedy Grove to the Qawra traffic lights (along Kennedy Drive) consist mainly of a shift in the road alignment intended to further safeguard the existing trees. This was required because studies showed that the root struc- ture of the trees and the trees' incli- nation necessitated shifting of the road laterally. In this area the changes involve the lateral shifting of the road (north bound) by about three me- tres onto private land to widen the central strip originally planned. The increased width of the central strip will enable better preservation of the trees. Although the latest plans are aimed to minimise the environ- mental impact, an additional 1,823 square metres over and above what was approved in 2011, will be taken up by the latest plans. An embank- ment is also being proposed along the new road. The coast road saga The project, which envisions the widening of the Coast Road from the current two to four lanes, origi- nally included a road passing right in the middle of agricultural land in Burmarrad. The proposal was to shift an existing road which splits the Kennedy Grove recreational park to the Burmarrad agricultural area. But this proposal was dropped after opposition by farmers. When the project was approved in 2011, the MEPA board refused to approve TM's plans for the junction at Qalet Marku, asking it to go back to the drawing board. Initially in its bid to turn the coast road into a four-lane carriageway TM proposed a roundabout junc- tion near the Maghtab access. This would have resulted in the project taking up a considerably large amount of land. According to the latest plans a T- junction will be developed instead of a gigantic roundabout at Qalet Marku, as initially proposed by Transport Malta in its first plans. Transport Malta presents plans to lessen take-up of agricultural land at Gonna tal-Barbier and to protect trees at Kennedy Grove, following consultations with Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar Owners appeal MEPA's Villa Bonici decision Coast Road plans revised again A new roundabout is being included to facilitate access to and from Salina and the hotel Salini Bay